There is such a thing as the cult of personality.
A charismatic, engaging and persuasive individual can draw attention and maintain interest. Sometimes that interest is in a cause, sometimes that interest is in the individual. It has its charms and people will refer to experiences with the individual where they leave with a greater admiration for them.
There is such a thing of a blessing of community.
What makes Jesus so attractive is that there is little about him that lends itself to the cult of personality. He did not wow people with His charisma. He didn’t seek to gain people’s trust with His oratory. Indeed it was often what He said that would put people off and antagonise people. He had no problem calling some of those who followed slow to understand. What He showed, however, was a humble, obedient, submissive and trusting character. Ever trusting His Father for all that He had to do. Even when His disciples left Him, He was never alone.
He entrusted Himself and the mission to His small community of believers because He never felt it was doing it on his own. When His followers received His spirit they operated in the same manner, a manner in which they were not looking to draw people into a cult of personality. They were looking to draw people into the way of life that was about serving each other and supporting each other as expressions of the love the Father had given to them.
There are times in the Christian journey where I feel I walk on my own. It feels that way. There are some responsibilities that feels like it is just on my shoulders to carry them. What God does from time to time is to remind me that if I follow Jesus, I will discover it’s never living for Him on my own. He lives in me. He offers pivotal brothers and sisters there to help in the large and the small.
That reassurance means so much to me, from Someone who is everything to me.
(Photo by Kevin Gent on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 